Strange Powers, the new documentary film on Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields, makes its New York debut tonight with a sold-out screening at The Bell House in Brooklyn. The screening will be preceded by a monologue from band member Claudia Gonson and followed by a Q&A with the film's directors, Kerthy Fix and Gail O'Hara. The film will be shown at the Seattle International Film Festival in June and begins its theatrical run in NYC this fall.

The Magnetic Fields' Realism tour made its way through England and continues on the Continent for the next week. BBC Manchester spoke with Stephin Merritt, "a brilliant songwriter," for "one of the most honest interviews from a songwriter about how hard it is to work on the art of it." The band's set at London's Barbican Centre elicited "well earned applause," says the Evening Standard's four-star review. The Arts Desk called it "a delightful show ... what a great band; and what a lovely, sad, funny evening."

The Magnetic Fields have made their way across North America, back to the East Coast, where they began their Realism tour two months ago. The tour closes with three nights at New York's Town Hall starting tonight. The band heads to Europe next week for a two-week tour there. Spinner reports that the band played "to thunderous applause" earlier this week in Chicago; Chicago Reader notes the "outstanding lineup" on stage and the music's "thoughtful and inventive" arrangements.

The Magnetic Fields have been in the Pacific Northwest all week performing for sold-out crowds in Portland and Seattle. Seattle Weekly called the first Seattle show "a night filled with uncommonly brilliant artistry." The band heads next to the Bay Area for two Noise Pop festival shows in Oakland and San Francisco, a DJ set from Stephin Merritt at Amoeba, and a sneak preview of the documentary on the band, Strange Powers.

Following The Magnetic Fields' sold-out show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, NPR's Carrie Brownstein reported that she "left the concert feeling lucky that The Magnetic Fields exist." That same night, the band's latest Nonesuch release, Realism, was the subject of a feature on NPR's All Things Considered including an interview with the band's Stephin Merritt and Claudia Gonson and a solo performance from Merritt.

The Magnetic Fields' tour settles in for two nights in Boston. In the Toronto Star, Stephin Merritt ("one of indie-rock's most beloved songwriters") gives fans an idea of what to expect on tour: "If we played it last time we toured, we're not playing it this time." With The A.V. Club, he shares some secrets to writing a good love song, advising: "Keep it vague." And Strange Powers, a new documentary about Merritt and the band, will be given a sneak preview at San Francisco's Noise Pop Festival and premiere at South by Southwest.

The Magnetic Fields begins its two-month tour with music from Realism at DC's Lisner Auditorium Thursday. The album opener opens the latest edition of NPR's All Songs Considered. The Christian Science Monitor recommends the album, citing Stephin Merritt's "delicately crafted pop songs with wit and deft musicality"; the Cleveland Plain Dealer gives it an A-, calling it "a fun exercise in faux-folk." Merritt speaks with the CBC about his music and his thoughts on the singing skills of label mate k.d. lang.

Realism, The Magnetic Fields' latest album, is aptly titled, says NPR's Fresh Air, given that singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt—that "master of the cutting understatement, as well as the elegant overstatement"—has created in these songs "a realism that is vivid, hard-headed and never half-hearted. He does something true," perhaps even creating "a statement bigger than their creator may have intended." SPIN gives the album four stars.

Realism, The Magnetic Fields' latest Nonesuch release, is available in stores across the globe today. Last night, the band joined fans and friends to celebrate the occasion at New York's Beauty Bar, with Stephin Merritt at the DJ booth. Now we celebrate with the launch of the fifth and final segment of the video series in which Merritt and Claudia Gonson discuss the new record, here answering: "Why Realism?"

There's just one day left before the release of The Magnetic Fields' latest Nonesuch release, Realism, and that means two things: the fourth installment of the five-part video series about the new record (today revealing which room in the house offers the best acoustics for recording) and the CD release party, which the band hosts at New York's Beauty Bar tonight. All are welcome; admission is free. The Independent names Realism its CD of the Week.

Today we bring you the third of a five-episode video series about The Magnetic Fields' forthcoming Nonesuch release, Realism. In this latest segment, Sincerity Is an Odd Duck, band members Stephin Merritt and Claudia Gonson continue their conversation about the new record, examining the oft-pondered notion of fact vs. fiction in Stephin's lyrics. The Guardian gives Realism four stars, citing its mix of "withering put-downs and gorgeous tunes."

Earlier today, Nonesuch.com launched the second of five videos featuring a lively conversation between The Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt and Claudia Gonson, discussing their forthcoming Nonesuch release, Realism. Now that you've heard a bit about the album straight from its creators, you can listen to Realism in its entirety in the exclusive album premiere on MySpace.